There are many fantasy players who subscribe to the “don’t pay for saves” philosophy. They won’t take a closer in the first 15 rounds of their draft. In fact, some won’t draft any closers at all.

Well, I’m not one of those players.

I understand that closer is a volatile position. Guys are promoted and demoted all the time. But I don’t want to rely on injuries, ineffectiveness and waiver-wire dominance just to ensure that I won’t finish last in a category.

In my starting pitcher rankings, I suggested drafting two staff anchors within the first seven or eight rounds of your draft. In that same vein, I recommend drafting two closers within the first, say, 12 rounds. Ideally, these guys will have an established track record of 30+ saves. If not, they should be in pretty darn good closer situations.

And hey, if you follow this advice, your first 12 picks will be spent on two top-notch starters, two top-notch closers and eight offensive starters. Then you can use the rest of your draft to build your bench and add pitching depth.

Here’s a list of my top 12 closers for 2014 – in the order in which I would draft them.

The Top 12

1) Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves

Kimbrel, with great peripheral numbers, has recorded 42+ saves in each of the last three seasons, including 50 a year ago. This is as no-brainer as it gets.

Projection: 46 saves, 4 wins, 1.44 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 113 strikeouts

2) Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds

Chapman has saved 38 games in back-to-back seasons and is a strikeout machine (234 over the last two years).

Projection: 40 saves, 5 wins, 2.30 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 122 strikeouts

Kenley Jansen (Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

3) Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers

Jansen is like a poor man’s Kimbrel or Chapman – only he’s still pretty darn rich. He’s posted a sub-0.90 WHIP each of the last two seasons, during which he has 53 saves. If the Dodgers perform as expected in 2014, Jansen could finish with 40+ saves.

Projection: 41 saves, 4 wins, 2.31 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 117 strikeouts

4) Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals

Rosenthal, who had 108 strikeouts in 75.1 innings last year, throws absolute gas. Like Jansen, he’s going to make a run at 40 saves.

Noticing a trend yet? All of the closers on this list pitch for playoff-caliber teams, and Nathan is no exception. The Tigers have won three consecutive division titles.

Projection: 38 saves, 5 wins, 2.68 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 83 strikeouts

6) Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals

Since becoming Kansas City’s closer in August 2012, Holland has recorded 63 saves – second-most in baseball – and ranks among the top 10 relievers in ERA, WHIP and strikeout rate.

Projection: 37 saves, 2 wins, 2.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 97 strikeouts

Koji Uehara (Photo Credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

7) Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox

Uehara would be ranked higher if not for his injury history; he’s been on the DL each of his first four major league seasons. Still, he could miss a month and finish with 30+ saves.

Projection: 35 saves, 3 wins, 2.21 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 85 strikeouts

8) Jim Johnson, Oakland Athletics

Johnson’s ERA, WHIP and strikeout numbers aren’t overwhelming, but he’s saved 50+ games in back-to-back seasons. The only other major leaguer to ever do that? Eric Gagne, in 2002-03. Johnson won’t save 50 games in Oakland, but 40? Oh yeah.